The US Division of Justice (DOJ) has opposed a movement to dismiss conspiracy and cash laundering costs in opposition to Twister Money co-founder Roman Semenov. It argued that the protection’s submitting raised disputed information for jury consideration, which is unsuited for early-stage motions.
Within the DOJ’s response, the prosecutors analyzed why the Twister Money co-founder ought to reply for the alleged crimes levied in opposition to him. The DOJ contested the protection’s characterization of Twister Money, noting it was launched in 2019 as a crypto mixer. The service includes an internet site, a person interface, a set of sensible contracts and a community of “relayers.”
The DOJ accused Roman Storm and fellow developer Roman Semenov of conspiring to commit cash laundering, working an unlicensed cash transmitter and violating sanctions by creating Twister Money, a crypto-mixing service. U.S. authorities declare that entities like North Korea’s Lazarus Group used Twister Money to launder funds.
In September 2023, Storm pleaded not responsible to all costs and was released on a $2 million bond shortly after his arrest. He’s primarily restricted from touring outdoors some areas of New York, New Jersey, Washington and California.
Nevertheless, in late March, Storm’s attorneys sought to dismiss the indictment by arguing that authorities lacked grounds to cost him. Semenov clarified that he contributed to code design however shouldn’t be accountable for its use.
Semenov’s authorized crew’s movement to dismiss emphasised that Twister Money doesn’t function as a custodial mixing service and doesn’t meet the standards for a “monetary establishment.” They claimed Storm had no management over the service to forestall entities like Lazarus Group from utilizing it.
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Damian Williams-led crew of prosecutors argued within the submitting that Semenov was accountable for working the cryptocurrency mixer and accused him of creating programs aiding criminals in anonymity. They criticized Twister Money’s co-founders for insufficient adjustments to exclude sanctioned addresses.
This comes because the U.S. authorities continues its crackdown on crypto-mixing companies.
On April 24, the co-founders of Samourai Pockets, a cryptocurrency mixer, Samourai Pockets CEO Keonne Rodriguez and chief expertise officer William Hill, have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a most sentence of 20 years and conspiracy to function an unlicensed cash transmitting enterprise, which carries a most sentence of 5 years.
Ki Younger Ju, CEO of CryptoQuant, acknowledged that crypto mixing services are not inherently criminal in response to the latest arrest of the founders of Samourai Pockets.
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